The Arizona Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins yesterday, and the Baltimore Ravens are one of the teams linked to the three-time All-Pro. Hopkins is no longer the elite playmaker he was back in the mid to late 2010’s, but he is still one of the better receivers in the league, and he should have no shortage of suitors. The only question is if the Ravens are the best fit for the former first-round pick.
Should the Baltimore Ravens Sign DeAndre Hopkins?
What Hopkins Wants
Prior to his release, DeAndre Hopkins appeared on the I Am Athlete podcast and talked about what he’d hope to find in a new NFL home. Per the appearance, Hopkins is looking for a stable organization, a quarterback that loves the game, and a great defense.
Right off the bat, the Ravens check a lot of those boxes. While there has been some in-house turmoil over the past few months, by and large, Baltimore has one of the more stable front offices in the league. John Harbaugh and Eric DeCosta aren’t leaving the Ravens any time soon, and that continuity should be a huge selling point for DeAndre Hopkins.
Additionally, the Ravens signed Lamar Jackson to a long-term deal, and the quarterback stability will be huge for potentially signing DeAndre Hopkins. Later on in the podcast, Hopkins listed the 2019 MVP as one of the five quarterbacks he’d love to play with.
DeAndre Hopkins was asked on @IAMATHLETEpod which QBs he'd love to have throwing him the ball. #Bills QB Josh Allen was quickly his first answer.
Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert rounded out his top-5.pic.twitter.com/gtepzf9JD4
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 22, 2023
And while the Ravens might not have the best defense in the league, it’s certainly one of the better units in the league. The 2022 Ravens finished seventh in the league in defensive DVOA and 14th in EPA/play, and their impressive collection of young talent should only get better in 2023.
Does DeAndre Hopkins Make Sense for the Ravens?
The Ravens can meet the demands of DeAndre Hopkins, but does it make sense for Baltimore to go after the three-time All-Pro? After all, the Ravens handed out a good amount of guaranteed money to Odell Beckham and selected Zay Flowers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, so wide receiver isn’t that big of a need anymore.
While the wide receiver trio of Beckham, Flowers, and Rashod Bateman is solid, they’re still missing a guy that can win jump balls on the perimeter. All three of the aforementioned receivers are at their best using speed and savvy route running to get open, but the Ravens could certainly use someone like DeAndre Hopkins that can win with size.
Just come home @DeAndreHopkins @KingTunsil78 @CJ7STROUD #WeAreTexans
— Chris Nalls (@TheChrisNalls) May 26, 2023
Additionally, there is a lot of risk in the Ravens wide receiver room. Odell Beckham hasn’t played since 2021, Zay Flowers is a rookie, and the jury is still out on Rashod Bateman. This group has a fairly high ceiling, but also has a devastatingly low floor. Hopkins would provide some much-needed security, and the Ravens should be interested in that. The only question now is if they have the money to make it work.
As of this posting, Baltimore currently has $11.78 million in available cap space, per OverTheCap. This puts the Ravens in a good spot for DeAndre Hopkins, as that’s notably more than other top teams linked to the wide receiver. The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs only have $1.48 million and $652,557 in cap space, respectively, so if this turns into a bidding war, the Ravens should be able to outspend some of the top competition.
